Air-lift pump.



PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

W. F. SPANGLER.

AIR LIFT PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. s, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 A 0 a o a M M I PATENTED SEPT. s, 1908.

W. F. SPANGLER.

AIR LIFT PUMP. APPLIQATION FILED DEC. 6, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witmwwo nrrnn STATES PATENT orries.

WILLIAM F. SPANGLER, or GREENFIELD, INDIANA.

AIR-LIFT :PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Sept. 8, 1908.

Application. filed. December 6, 1907. Serial No. 405,328.

To all whom it may concern:

, curate specification, which when taken in connection with the accom' anying drawings, forming a part thereof, will be found such as to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention relates to make and use the same with exactitude.

This present invention relates, more particularly, to a mechanical construction to be employed in connection with a system of water distribution, by which the water is drawn from the well and forced into a containing reservoir, or the like, the power employed being compressed air.

The objects of the invention, broadly speaking, is the provision of means for employing compressed air in withdrawing water from tubular wells; to provide for conducting the compressed air to thepoint of utilization; to provide a device for utilizing the compressed air, which device will be strong and durable in construction, easily adjusted and controlled, and which will aflord a maximum of efficiency with a minimum of power applied. 7

More particularly stated, my ob'ect is to provide an air-lift pump which will be economically efficient, having no .operating arts to wear or become inoperative through Inadvertent displacement, and by the use of which the loss of power will be practically nil.

Other general objects and particular advanta eswill be brought out in the course of the i0 owing specification, and the features which are new will be hereinafter claimed.

The preferred manner for the construction and operation of my invention is shown most clearly in the. accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a portion ofa well-casing and a hydrant or T-fitting, and the application of my invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 shows a central longitudinal view of my invention (proper. Fig. .3 is a plan view of the upper en of the parts shown in Fig. 2. And Fig. 4 is crosssectional view, Fig. 2.

as taken on the line XX of Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several viewsf .In order that-the construct on and opera-- invention. may be more fully una descripfizion set tion of my derstood I will now take up thereof in concrete detail in which he w forth the construction and operation of the invention as briefly and as compactly may.

Referring to the drawings, the-letter'A denotes a portion of a well-casing, being shown in longitudinal section in order that my invention may be .seen in operative-position therein.

The letter B denotes an ordinary hydrant or T-fitting secured above the ground onto the upper end of said casing. Said hydrant or IF-fitting is provided with a discharge nozzle 1) extending out at right angles therefrom. On the up er end'of the hydrant or T-fitting is removal lysecured the ca '0.

Secured in the center of t e cap 0 is a T- fitting D, which maybe secured '111 the position shown. The upper end ofthe fitting 1) should be closed by the plug E.

- Threaded into the horizontal portion of the fitting D is a nipple F and threaded onto the latter is a hand-controlled valve G, to which latter is connected the nipple H. Connected to the-nipple H is the L- tting 'I, from which extends the pipe J, the latter communicating with a compressed air reservoir or the. like (not shown).

The letter K denotes the inner supplyipe, having its =u per end threaded into the tting D, or into t e center of the cap C with the fittin D threaded thereon, as desired. The pipe extends down through the hydrant or T-fitting B and into the well-tubing A to a point some distance below the waterline inside the wellcasing. Y

On the lower end of the ipe K is threaded the L-fitting Ljinto the liorizontal portion of which is secured the nipple M.

The above described 1parts may be variously changed and modi ed as desired in order to meet varying condition.

I will now describe the. parts which are more essentially new and which form the essential elements of my invention: The numeral 1 denotes an elongated hollow jacket or cylinder closed at its lower end, the upper portion being formed conical and flaring in order to increase the upper diameter thereof,

for the" ur oseresently a pearing. The lower end of said jacket or cylinder is formed v the upper en comparatively heavy,

cally therethrough is a threaded aperture, for

the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Extending out'at right angles from the lower portion of the jacket or cylinder, im-

mediately above said closed end, is an interiorly threaded lip 1 into w ich may be secured one end of said nipple M as shown.

. The numeral 2 denotes a head which is round'in cross section, the'up er end being flat with its eriphery of slight y less diameter than is t e inside diameter of the u end of the jacket or cylinder 1. Said ead extends downwardly convergently inside the i jacket or cylinder and it merges into the stem 2 formed integral therewith. The lower end of said stem is threaded and adapted to fit in the said threaded a erture in the lower end of the jacket or cyl fnder. By the above it is ap arent that the up er end of the head 2 may e adjusted up or own, with relation to the upper end of the jacket or cylinder 1, and when adjusted as desiredit may be secured by the nut 3 which is threaded on the protruding lower end of the stem 2 and contacts with the lower end of the j acket or cylinder 1 as shown. I

.The indice 1- designatesa boss extending out horizontally from the upper end of the jacket or cylinder 1, being oppositely disposed to the lip 1. The interior of saidboss v is threaded out and threaded thereinto is the brace or support 4 which is of a length such that its free end may touch the insi e of the casing A. The support 4 does not communicate with the interior :of the jacket or cylinder 1, but is provided solely to assist in retaining the jacket or cylinder 1 in operative position, the fitting L acting as the opposite su port.

t is to be understood that the lower broken-away ortion shown in Fig. 1 is located a consi erable distance below the surface of the ground, and that the jacket or cylinder will be located below the surface of the water in the well. By experience I have found that a 33 submergence of the jacket or cylinder over the lifting capacity of the air gives the most satisfactory results.

The air pressure having attained the desired pressure, and the'parts of the invention being arranged substantially as set forth, it is manifest that by opening the valve G the air pressure will be admitted, passing down the pipe K and thence into the lower part of the jacket or cylinder 1, and thence u ward through the mouth of the jacket or cy inder. The compressed air of course will pass up through the jacket or cylinder and will discharge .throu h the circular space between of the jacket or cylinder and the periphery of the head in a thin conical sheet, radiating outwardly against the wall and disposed vertiforce, etc.

per,

which the water must be lifted, the available When the head is adjusted with res ect to the mouth of the jacket 1, not only wil the cross-sectional area of the space between the members be varied, as is true in certain rior devices in this art with which I am fam iar, but by virtue of the peculiar relative flare of said members, I provide a varia-- tion in the angle at which the jet of airleaves the device and impinges against the wall of the member A. Thus it will be seen that if the head terminates below the upper end of the jacket the direction of the et will approximate the cone determined by the jacket, while on the other hand if'the head extends above the jacket the jet cone will approximate that determined by the flatter cone of the head, and whereby the jet will im inge the wall of the tubing A in a circle lbwe'r down than in the other position of adjustment of the head. Intermediate adjustments of the'head will effect corresponding variations in the angle of the jet.

It is evident that the pass upward, forcing ahead of it the water thereabove and .same time drawing or sucking the water upward from below to take the place of that ast acted upon. The commingled water and air, of course, dischargingfrom the nozzle 1) in a solid or unbroken stream, the size of which depends more or less on the amount of the air pressure.

pressure may only By reason of the distribution of the air as I it is discharged from the mouth or cylinder I am enabled to gree of efiiciency,

of the j acket. obtain a high deand at same time employmg a comparatively small air conduction pi e the discharging air.

Having now fully shown and described my change the'ca- .pacity of the space Z and the inclination at? invention and the best means for its construe tion and operation to me known at this time, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a pump of the class described, the

combination with. a well casing adapted to project within the water, a hollow jacket located below the water line and having 9.. cy-

lindrical lower portion the lower end of which is interiorly screw threaded and a flaring conical up er ortion, the upper end of which is open, a ea located withm said jacket the upper end of which head is conical and slightly smaller in diameter than the open end of the jacket, the cone of the head havinga greater flare than the cone of the jacket and extending downwardly, means connected with said head whereby the same may be secured adjustably in the said threaded end of the jacket whereby the annular space between the head and the open end of the jacket may be varied in area, and means for su porting said jacket centrally within the wel casing and supplying compressed air thereto.

2. In combination, a cylindrical casing adapted to extend into the water in a well, a hollow jacket located beneath the water line and within the casing, said jacket comprising a cylindrical lower portion and a conical flaring upper portion having an open mouth at its upper end, said jacket being provided with a lateral inlet in its cylindrical portion, I

a member within said jacket comprising a stem secured adjustably in the lower end of the said jacket and having at its upper end an upwardly and outwardly flaring ead, the upper end of which is slightly less in diameter than the open, mouthof the jacket aforesaid and the flare of which is greater than that of the conical portion of the jacket, means connected with the jacket at its lateral opening aforesaid to admit compressed air thereto and serving to prevent lateral movement of the jacket in one direction, and a brace secured to the conical portion of the jacket to prevent lateral movement thereof in the o posite direction, substantially as set fort In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. SPANGLER. Witnesses:

ALFRED H. Ro'rTMAN, OSCAR O. BEVER. 

